Car washing apparatus adapted for mounting on the vehicle to be washed

ABSTRACT

A high pressure pump, such as a gear pump or small piston pump, is connected by means of a clutch to be driven by the engine; a collapsible water bag, of thermoplastic material and capable of holding in the order of 8 to 10 gallons of water, is located in the car, for example in the trunk space; a thin flexible tubing is spooled on a reel, located in the car (for example under the hood), and hydraulic interconnections are provided to take water from the water bag through the pump and to the tubing, so that a self-contained car washing system is provided capable of applying a water stream under pressure. When not in use, the plastic water bag is collapsed, and can fold flat against the inner wall of the trunk.

United States Patent ['72] Inventor [21 1 App]. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented Guido Oberdorler Werlrstrasse 22, Bellenberg, Germany 803,787

Mar. 3, 1969 Aug. 1 7, 1 97 l 1521 U.S.Cl

137/565, 180/1 R, 180/53 FE, 239/130, 280/5 R,

............................................. E0lc 19/16 169/24; 130/23; 230/15 MC; 137/565; 280/5 A, 5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,623,221 4/1927 Weimer 180/53 FE 2,514,225 7/1950 Dabrohua. 401/43 X 2,563,981 8/1951 Walkermr 280/5 A 2,663,890 12/1953 Sullins 401/7 r F F- ll'LESCOPlNG 2,918,011 12/1959 McCray et a1. 103/23 3,129,014 4/1964 Hutchison et a1. 280/5 A 3,154,086 10/1964 Barnes 137/565 X 3,171,154 3/1965 Lovell 103/23 X 3,265,262 8/1966 Motsinger 280/5 UX 3,317,142 5/1967 Casale 239/172 X FOREIGN PATENTS 249,642 4/1926 Great Britain 180/1 Primary ExaminerA. Harry Levy Attorney-Flynn & Frishauf ABSTRACT: A high pressure pump, such as a gear pump or small piston pump, is connected by means of a clutch to be driven by the engine; a collapsible water bag, of thermoplastic material and capable of holding in the order of 8 to 10 gallons ofwater, is located in the car, for example in the trunk space; a thin flexible tubing is spooled on a reel, located in the car (for example under the hood), and hydraulic interconnections are provided to take water from the water bag through the pump and to the tubing, so that a self-contained car washing system is provided capable of applying a water stream under pressure. When not in use, the plastic water bag is collapsed, and can fold flat against the inner wall of the trunk.

PATENTED AUG! 7 l9?! GUHJO OBERDORFER [wan-rm 2 I E3 5m $532 5:: ELSE:

CAR WASHING APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING ON THE VEHICLE TO BE WASHED.

The present invention relates to a car washing apparatus and more particularly to a car washing apparatus in which water is delivered from a water tank, under pressure, to a hose, to be applied under pressure to the car to be washed, so as to dislodge accumulated dirt.

Unless the owner of a car has access to water under pressure the only way he could clean a vehicle himself is by means of a bucket and sponge; it is, however, frequently desired to provide water under pressure, so as to dislodge encrusted dirt and road film by the pressure of the stream itself. It has been proposed to put water under pressure by utilizing the air pressure in the spare tire; this pressure is sufficient in order to supply water to a washing mitten. It is not sufficient, however, in order to provide a stream having sufficient pressure which can clean a car itself.

It is an object of the present invention to provide car washing apparatus which is self-contained and adapted to be carried on the vehicle to be washed, and which provides water under sufficiently high pressure that din can be dislodged therefrom; and which could carry its own water supply so as to be independent of service stations and other public places, where washing may be prohibited, while being so constructed that no useful passenger, or trunk space is taken up by the equipment.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly, a pressure purnpauch as, for example :a gearpump, is mounted to bedriveu by theiengim, when idling, for example over a clutch whichcan ibeaooirpledlby anelectnie switch or which can be engaged by allowtie'nicableqT-hin tubing, forexample plastic tubing of V2 to 1 cm. internal diameter is connected to the pump. Wateraupply is obtained from a water container, preferably aplastic bagnfabouteightto ten gallons capacity, which is arranged to be folrldltle, when empty, against the inner wall olthe vehinle, torexample in :the trunk. The pump delivers waterlunder highzpressure, to'the tubing, which can be unreeled..and-.eonnectable at theiend to a spray head, or a nozzle. Thernolileisiprefera'blyoo-oonstmcted rthat it provides a flattenadJhn-shaped meamuf wlter untlerhigh pressure. If desired, a water softeningnrangementtean be interposed in the hydraulic lines, and injection .devices to iniect a detergent or other washing compounds can be likewise inserted in the hydraulic lines.

The pumpis preferably agenrpump, delivering high output pressuresinithenrderoflfrorn 300 106) .pmtmlastic tubing in the order of to mm. diameter can then adequately carry the'umtenundersuchmighpressure, andprovide. ashagp, intense-jetforcompletecleaning,andtdislodging ofdirt.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference totheaecompanying-drawings wherein:

FIG. at is a general 'schematic view ot':the mashing arrangement in spam car;

FIG. 2 is expertly expladedwiew ofademils o'flhe apparatus;

FIG. 3-isa side'viewpartly-insection, of ateleseoping eonnectingtube;

FIG. 4a is an illustration dfa washing mitten with a quickcoupling connection; and

FIG. 415 is arr-illustration dfa'tlattener'l'nozzletorprovide a fan-shaped stream.

A highpmessurerpurnp ll ,preferablyagearpump, or a small piston pump is loeated intthetenginecompartmentof the vire-hicle, drivenbyoa vsbelnior examplefrom the fly wheel of the engine. Hie Nrheitiiriuesamhitch .10, engageable by electromagnetic-mansor'by llowdencable (notshown) to connect driving omenfmm lhezengine -toptm'rp 1. A water-tank 3 is located indie vehiclefforrammpleinthetrunk ofthe car. it is connected by means dfiapipe toiamter preseneeaensor 13, then to a water device 2, then to a detergent or cleaning substance .injectiomtmit I1, .andthen to the suction side of the pumpT-hepressure side of the pump connects to a pressure line 4 which may be rigid, or flexible, and from which water under pressure can be taken off. Line 4 may terminat in a quick-release coupling 1. connected flush with the outside of the car body. A flexible base, hich can be carried on a reel 6, and which has a mating quick-release coupling attached, can then be connected to coupling hi; the other end of the hose again has a quick release coupling to which a washing mitten (FIG. 4a) or a nozzle (4b) can be attached; of course, other washing devices, such as brushes or the like, may be used, as well as spray tubes such as tube 5 (FIG. 2). Line 4 may also terminate in a telescoping. xtendable pipe 15 (FIG. 3), passing through a wall of the body of the car and ordinarily closed by means of a cap 16. Extending telescoping tube 15 beyond the car prevents accidental damage to the car finish by the hose reel, or other washing apparatus.

Reel 6, on which the hose is spooled, is preferably mounted directly on the tire wall ofthe wehiclmmd provided with holding means and clamps so that the hose cannot unwind during vibration or operation of the vehicle. As an alternative, the line 4 can be directly connected to reel 6 by means of a rotatable coupling as seen in 2 which, when placed under pressure, is self-sealing and ssh-holding, the coupling being movable only upon release of pnessure.

If the line 4 is brought out directly to a quick release coupling at the edge of the body of she vehicle, see HG. 2, then the body is additionally formed with a hole large enough to pass both ends of the hose on reel theretluough, one end to be connected to the terminal of line 4, and the other to be pulled out as desired. When not in use, .a movable plate can cover the opening.

The pressure pump 1 is preierably a geerpungp providing an output pressure of from 360 @600 psi, and so arrangedsthat the amount of water being supplied is adjustable, depending upon whether the user connects agetmozzle or a .washingmitten or the like. Small piston pumps canalsobe used; for such a construction, a water pressure equalization chamber 1 (*FIG. 2)1is preferably included atthepressure sideofrthe pump.

Water presence sensor 13 provides an indication if the Water supply should fail, and disconnects pump :1 by'disengagingclutch it) :upon failure of water supply. As an additional safety measure, a drainage plug is preferably provided at'the lowest point ofthe system .to draimwater and present freezing during winter. The water softening device 2 is-preferably an ion exchange apparatus, well known in the art, which prevents mineral deposits on the painted surface of the vehicle body and increases effectiveness of detergents.

The watertartk 8-.is of ;plastic, which flexible and so arrangadtlnt. when emptyrit can'fdldflat sgainmhc wallofthe body, :for example within the trunk 'P'Ilhe :tank 3, when full, is preferably cube-shaped,.and :t'oldable onfth sidewalls, along diagonallines indicatedlin broken lines in FIG. ,1, so thatthe thickness of the tank, when empty, is only that of several this. aliphatic-material. 'IFhe location of thetankcan be anywhere in the vehicle, .as desired by vthe user, the trunk being suitable. :lt has been found. surprisingly, that a tank capacity of. about eightgallonsis sufficient for washing of .an ordiuary'vehiclemalthuugh ofcuurse largertanksmay be sued.

Thehasenobesrered on M 6, may be ofplasti" and of an internal diameter of-fmm 510 1:0 mm. A'ilatnozsle, as illustrated particularly in -FIQfihNAhitt-h-provides a sharp flat jet of water at the peersure of 'i00 .s.i. enahlespeeling .offleven of encrustedtiirtfrom a smeothlaquorsurfaoe firm-automobile, with minimum -mter use so that .a small tank of-the abovegivenespacityissufficieat. The hosereel may, of course,-be loeatedatany other convenient-place imthervehicle. for example also in themrunk. lt maydaeiprovided iwitlra springoelfreturn ao-lhat the hose isordinarilyunderslighttension thus preventingentanglementwiththe vehicle during use.

Detergents or otheracleaiing substaneesmayebe introduced into mkB-before used the washingdevicepalternatively, an injector, welhkmwn by itnlt' aod indioatedrscbunatically at 11, may "be used. Such injectors maybe filled with suitable washing compounds, or with cartridges proportioned for the quantity of water to be used. The injector, of course, may also be located in the pressure line 4 if desired.

Although not shown in the drawings, it is desirable to provide a T-fitting in the suction line, so that washing water can be sucked up by the pump not only from tank 3, but also from other sources of water such as buckets to be located next to the vehicle.

Various changes in the arrangement may be provided; the hydraulic lines interconnecting the various elements may be located on the vehicle at any desired point, may be fixed or flexible, arranged to be built in or added later as attachments. The supervisory control of the car washing attachment is not shown in detail since it is well known in the art, the safety control line from water-presence sensor 13 to the clutch being indicated by dashed lines.

I claim:

1. [n a car washing apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle to be washed having a pressure pump, the improvement comprising said pressure pump being a high pressure pump (1) providing a pressure in the range of about 300600 p.s.i. connectable to be driven by the vehicle engine;

a foldable water container (3) of flexible plastic material and having a capacity in the order of 8l0 U.S. gallons adapted to hold water for washing the vehicle and foldable flat when empty;

a washing hose;

a nozzle means connected to the washing hose and having an outlet providing a high pressure stream;

reel means for storing said hose located in the engine compartment of the vehicle;

and hydraulic interconnection means from said water container to said pump and to said hose to conduct wash water from container to the nozzle means under said pressure of between 300-600 p.s.i. when the pump is driven by the engine of the vehicle.

2. Apparatus according to claim I wherein said hose has an inside diameter in the order of from k to l cm.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle means is shaped to deliver a flat fan-outjet of water.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said water container is mounted against a sidewall of the vehicle, and foldable against said side wall when empty.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a waterpresence detection device sensing absence of water, and means interrupting driving power to said pump upon said sensed absence to prevent damage to the pump when the tank is dry. 

1. In a car washing apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle to be washed having a pressure pump, the improvement comprising said pressure pump being a high pressure pump (1) providing a pressure in the range of about 300-600 p.s.i. connectable to be driven by the vehicle engine; a foldable water container (3) of flexible plastic material and having a capacity in the order of 8-10 U.S. gallons adapted to hold water for washing the vehicle and foldable flat when empty; a washing hose; a nozzle means connected to the washing hose and having an outlet providing a high pressure stream; reel means for storing said hose located in the engine compartment of the vehicle; and hydraulic interconnection means from said water container to said pump and to said hose to conduct wash water from container to the nozzle means under said pressure of between 300-600 p.s.i. when the pump is driven by the engine of the vehicle.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hose has an inside diameter in the order of from 1/2 to 1 cm.
 3. Apparatus according tO claim 1 wherein said nozzle means is shaped to deliver a flat fan-out jet of water.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said water container is mounted against a sidewall of the vehicle, and foldable against said side wall when empty.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a water-presence detection device sensing absence of water, and means interrupting driving power to said pump upon said sensed absence to prevent damage to the pump when the tank is dry. 